Mold Remediation - Is Your Health At Risk?

The concept of mold remediation is something every homeowner hopes they can avoid. But no matter how fortunate you are in terms of flooding, how carefully you inspect your home, and how clean and dry you keep the house, you could deal with spore growth at any time. It is amazing how sneaky and resilient spore growth can be. If there is a way, it has the will. Of course, this growth can result in some unsightly patches on the wall and can even create structural issues if the problem gets bad enough. But are there health issues as well?

It’s important to remember that even mold remediation experts probably can’t name every species of growth that exists, so numerous are the varieties. Some estimates put the number of species in the high thousands, which makes it impossible for any one person to possibly classify them all. Therefore, there certainly could be unknown health risks in some of the lesser known and uncommon varieties. Having said that, what you will be mostly concerned with are the ones likely to show up in your home. This includes the surface molds such as acremonium, aspergillus, and various mutations of stachybotrys.

Most experts confirm that the vast majority of these species pose little to no health issue to the average person. Some people have allergic reactions, however, which can cause illness and irritation. If someone you know is especially sensitive to allergens, having the spores present in the house could cause cold-like symptoms such as sneezing, dry throat, and other irritations. Even those who aren’t particularly susceptible to allergies could develop problems if left in an environment with the spores for a long enough period of time.

While most species are largely harmless, the black variety—stacybotrys chartarum—has been known to cause health problems of a serious nature. Depending on the age and susceptibility of the person exposed, and their level of exposure, this variety can cause a host of symptoms such as fatigue, headache, fever, rash, and has even been known to create neurological issues in some. While the number of deaths from this variety is uncertain, it is nothing you want in your home. If you suspect you have this type of growth in the home, you should seek professional mold remediation as soon as possible.

While mold remediation of a very small amount is possible to do on your own, it is always a much better idea to call in the professionals. Not only is it safer, but you will be assured that the problem is taken care of.